Shanghai (ZXZC)-Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (TMCI) formally announced on November 27 the launch of its travelling subsidiary in Hainan, which would focus on offering high-quality mobility services to the southernmost province of Mainland China.

The new company, dubbed Toyota Hainan Mobility Co.,Ltd, involves a registered capital of RMB10 million, of which 32% stake is held by TMCI, according to company information search platform TianYanCha. Other investors include Toyota Motor Finance (China) Co., Ltd., Zhongsheng Group, Haikou Huitong Jiahua Automobile Sales Service Co.,Ltd.

As a crucial part of the company's shift to a mobility service provider, TMCI wishes to provide customers with premium and convenient travelling experience by drawing on all shareholders' resources in car rental, automotive financing, auto sale and after-sale service through the newly-launched company, said TMCI.

(Photo source: Lexus China)

At an initial stage, the Hainan-based mobility service company will offer the short-term car rental, long-term car leasing and concierge passenger pickup & drop-off services. Tourists on the beautiful tropical island would be allowed to use the short-term car rental service through WeChat and other partner hotels and online travel agencies. The Camry, Avalon, RAV4, Highlander will be deployed as major people movers for this service. Besides, the platform will use such premium models as the Alphard and the Lexus ES for picking up and delivering guests.

In the future, more energy-saving and environment-friendly PHEV and BEV models are expected to join the lineup, said TMCI.

All models to be operated are new versions coming standard with event data recorder and automotive backup camera to satisfy consumers’ demands on safety and travelling diversity.

Taking tourism as the mainstay industry, Hainan province received over 760 million trips last year and expects the number to surpass 100 million in 2021. The huge market offers Toyota a great testbed to develop its mobility business in China, thus pushing ahead with the transformation to a mobility service provider.